Using the Reading Progress tool in Microsoft Teams for Language Learning

The new Reading Progress function in Microsoft Teams Assignments works perfectly for language learning. In this step-by-step guide, we show you how you can use the Reading Progress tool to enhance language assignments and grading.??

Teams Assignments currently supports 37 different languages, so there’s plenty of choice for language teachers and their students.?The tool allows students to be able to read a passage in a foreign language in an environment that is comfortable and familiar.??

Meanwhile, the teachers can easily pick up on mispronunciations, omissions and repetitions?while?tracking students’ progress in language learning. The time saved can be?dedicated?to coaching less confident?speakers.?

In the video, Keith walks you through how to set up, complete and grade a language reading assignment in Microsoft Teams.??

We demonstrate?how to set up a Reading Progress Assignment in Class Teams here.?

Below, we talk about how you can use it for language learning.

Setting up a Reading Progress Assignment for language learning.

1. Go to your Class Team and head to the?Assignments?tab.
2. Select?Create?to open a drop-down menu. Select?Assignment?to create a new assignment.
3. In New Assignment, fill out the details of your assignment, such as the title and instructions.?
4. Below the instructions section, select?Add Resources.?
5. Select?Reading Progress?to start setting up the assignment.??

6. First,?upload?your reading passage. As you can see from the demo, we have our text in both English and German – you can edit your text if you need to and even preview it to see what it’ll look like for the student.??

7. Once you have uploaded your passage, you can change several settings, including reading level, genre, the number of attempts your students will have to complete the task and pronunciation sensitivity.?

Pronunciation sensitivity can be set to?Less sensitive,?Standard (default)?or?More?sensitive, depending on your preferences. This can also be changed after the assignment is completed and you’re reviewing the assignment (see below).??

Teachers can toggle on and off?Video Required?to determine whether students need to record a video of themselves reading or simply submit audio.?

This is great for language learning as the teacher can see how confident the student is reading the passage.??

8. When you’re happy with the settings, select?Attach?to add Reading Progress to the Assignment.??

As with all?Assignments, you can add further details before assigning them to students. For example, rubrics and points.??

9. Select?Assign?to assign to an entire class, group or individual students.?

How a student can complete a language Reading Progress Assignment.??

Students can see the reading assignment in their Class Teams area.??

1. Select?View Assignment?to open the task. There is an icon next to the reading passage they need to record.??

Note: The?first time?students use this, they must allow Microsoft to access their microphone, speakers and camera. A dialogue box will appear.??

2. Hit?Start?when ready to read.?

Note: Students can use?Immersive Reader?at this stage to change the way the text looks and assist their reading.??

3. Once the student has recorded their passage, they also have the option to?Start Over, or select?I’m finished?when they’re done.??

When finished, they can return to the original assignment and select the?Hand in?button to hand it over to you.?

How to grade a language Reading Progress Assignment.???????????????????????????

1. Head over to your?Assignments?tab and select the student you wish to review.??

This will take you to the?Reading Progress?dashboard – the passage is marked up, with words per minute and an accuracy level. We can also see the recording of the passage.??

Microsoft’s autodetect highlights and?colour?codes mispronunciations, repetitions, omissions, self-corrections and insertions.?

2. On the left-hand side, you can toggle on/off?autodetect?depending on your preferences.??

Below this, a slider for?Pronunciation sensitivity?can be adjusted.??

Teachers can watch/listen to the recording and manually mark up the passage, as well as jumping to specific words of the passage by selecting?Jump to word.?

Feedback can be given in the box on the right-hand side of the dashboard.??

3. Select?Return?to give?the feedback?to the student.?

You can navigate to the next assignment from the dropdown menu.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help your school or trust achieve more with Microsoft 365, please?contact a member of our team today.